Application of Nanomedicines in the Treatment of Infectious Diseases

In recent times, several nanosized materials have been explored in pharmaceutical applications by biomedical researchers. Nanosized materials have been utilized as drug carriers. Factors such as the size, shape, high surface area, functionalization with targeting moieties, etc. of nanosized materials influence their biomedical application. Nanosized materials are excellent platforms for biomedical applications due to their interesting features, such as excellent cellular uptake, targeted delivery, capability to accommodate bioactive agents, good circulation in the bloodstream, etc. Nanomedicines are developed by incorporating bioactive agents into nanosized materials.

The treatment of infectious diseases is challenging using the existing antimicrobials. The increasing emergence of drug-resistant microbial strains reveals a pressing need for the development of new drug-delivery systems to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of existing antimicrobials. The diagnosis and control of infectious diseases is also an essential treatment approach to minimize the number of people who are exposed to contracting the infection. The application of nanomedicine is rapidly becoming a major field of research with outstanding features suitable for the treatment, control, and diagnosis of infectious diseases.

This special issue is a collection of emerging efforts of developed nanomedicines that are utilized in combating infectious diseases (i.e., viral, fungal, bacterial, and parasitic infections) and the current challenges associated with nanomedicines. Potential manuscripts are invited for evaluation and publication in this special issue, such as studies on the development of emerging nanomedicines and nanosized materials for the treatment and control of infectious diseases, ranging from drug delivery, therapy, bioimaging, diagnosis, and antimicrobials, etc. The antimicrobials will cover drug molecules, plant extracts, essential oils, and metal-based nanoparticles. Original Research articles, Reviews, and Mini-Reviews on the following topics can be included with emphasis on infectious diseases:

• Development and characterization of nanosized biomaterials for delivery of bioactive agents/drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases.

• Development of bionanomaterials for diagnostic bioimaging/biosensing applications for infectious diseases/microorganisms.

• Methods of encapsulation/loading of antimicrobial agents/antiparasitic drugs into nanomaterials.

• Drug delivery mechanisms of nanomedicines containing antimicrobial agents/antiparasitic drugs (i.e., controlled, targeted, sustained).

• Addressing challenges associated with nanomedicines.

• Combination drug therapy using nanomedicines for the treatment of infectious diseases.

• Nanomedicine, a promising tool for the theranostics of infectious diseases.

• Nanomedicines as vaccines for protection against infectious diseases.

• Strategies to improve the properties of nanomedicines for the control and treatment of infectious diseases.

• Evaluation of toxicity and stability of nanomedicine formulations containing antimicrobial agents/antiparasitic drugs in a physiological environment.

• Challenges in the large-scale production of nanomedicine formulations.

• Roadmap to clinical transition of nanomedicines for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Keywords:

Nanomedicines, Drug Delivery Systems, Nanotherapeutics Malaria, Fungal infections, Viral infections, Bacterial, infections, Parasitic infections, Drug Delivery Systems, Microbial infected wounds, Bionanomaterials, Carbon-based nanocarriers, Plants extracts, Essential oils, Antimicrobial drugs, Antiviral agents